Thursday, May 03, 2007

But, He Ended Up Doing Well

Or at least that's his plan. Tony Blair expects his good deeds to be rewarded when he leaves politics:

Mr Blair has little love for the House of Commons and has already made clear that he is looking for a life outside politics when he leaves No 10.

It would be a huge break with precedent for him to quit as an MP after leaving No 10 - as his immediate predecessors, including John Major, Margaret Thatcher, James Callaghan and Harold Wilson all remained in the Commons at least until the following general election.

Sir Edward Heath stayed on as an MP for 30 years after he was Prime Minister, while Lady Thatcher is now in the House of Lords.

But Mr Blair is known to want to cash in on his political stature as soon as possible. He has a hefty mortgage on his £3.6 million town house in London, which is being refurbished after the Blairs bought the £800,000 mews house behind it.

He is believed to have told a handful of close friends he has now decided to quit as an MP as soon as possible. Labour MPs predicted he could tour the world lecture circuit, particularly in the United States, write his memoirs and pick up lucrative boardroom directorships.